Black-out curtain device for doors or similar openings



0d. 12, 1943. BARKER 2,331,295

BLACKOUT CURTAIN DEVICE FOR DOORS 0R SIMILAR OPENINGS I Filed Sept. 2.1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 6 Georgefl Earlier, A Jrd Lu Oct. 12, 1943. ABARKER BLACKOUT CURTAIN DEVICE FOR DOORS on SIMILAR OPENINGS Filed Sept.2, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 12, 1943 I UNITED Applicationsesame; 2,1942, Serial No. 56,98: I 15 Claims. I (cr spii) 1Grai1teaunder the act ofjmareil 3, 188115;: 1 1 amended April 30p1928;370 O. G. 757) The invention described' her'ein may be inanufactured andused by orior the Government for governmental purposes, without paymenttome of any royalty thereon. i

The present invention relates to ablackout cur tain device for a door orsimilar opening in a dwelling, store, restaurant trailer or anywherethat during a blackout, entrance" or exit is necessary or desirablewithout the possibility of egress of interior light. v

The primary purpose of my invention is to provide a simple and easilyinstalled apparatus that is adaptable for use with any opening or can--ventional doorassembly. v y 7, Another object of my invention'isto'provide a blackout curtain device that does not materially interferewith the passage through the doo rand' which, although the user may becarrying-cumber-;

some packages, may be operated with a minimunii physical effort with nopossibility of light escap"-. ing during the entranceor exit. a a a Afurther object of the invention is to provide a blackout curtain, devicemanufactured from readily obtainable and economical materials that maybe installed with'little eifort and without the necessity of employingskilled workmen. I

Still another object of the inventionis to provide a blackout curtaindevice that after once installedmay be left permanently and when not inuse may be quickly moved to a position 50 as not to interfere with theusual passage through the door or moved to Operative position just asquickly. v v

A still further object of the invention is to provide a blackout curtaindevice formed primarily of t flexible light proof curtains or drapesthat are easilymoved aside and automatically swing back when inoperation and which are capable of being bunched to occupy a minimum ofspace when not inuse..

Other and further objects of theinvention will be apparent from a detaildescription thereof, wherein only a preferred form of embodiment of Ithe invention is shown and described, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which 3 Figure 1 is aviewfrom the interior of a room showing the blackout curtain deviceinstalled over a door.

Fi ure 2 is a horizontal section on the line 22 of Figure 1, showing aperson entering the blackout curtain device through the open door.

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the progress through the blackoutcurtain device past the en-: closed curtain and before leaving 'thesameiFigure 4 is a perspective ofthe guide tracks in whichthe curtainsare-hung.

Figure'5 is a'verticalsection'on the line Fi -50f E Figure2showing-isthe inner orenclosed curtain being swung aside) Figure 6 is apartial vertical 6-45 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a vertical Figure fiwith cover plate removed.

Figure 8 is a "fragmentary view section on the Figure 1 a completeinstallation .o'f-the blackout curtain device as seen "ir'o'mtheinterior-o1 a room. The wall i has the usual dooropening 2 in which ishingedly mounted a door 3. Theroom is provided with'the usual floor :4.li/lounted abovethe door opening is a coverp'late 5 wider than the dooropening andsecured to the under side of the" same area pairof'guidetracks 6 and l the'con-*- tour and arrangement of which are best shownin Figures} 4 and 6. Slidablymounted in the guide tracks are flexiblelight proof curtains 'or drapes projecting ears I0 through which passscrews or other suitable fastening means.

- tain 8 is carried by theguide track 6 and theen as shown in Figure8.". l

The guide tracks are each formed of inverted U-shaped members with thebase lying against the bottom of the cover plate and held inposi tion ina manner formerly described. One leg of the U i bent inwardly and up toformanren closed track 12; The curtain is mounted withits upper edgeenclosed in theguide by bent spaced= pins l3 each having a portion llflying'over andslidable along the track l2 with an extension'iliasser'npiercing andsupporting the curtain; This bly is best shown in Figures 6and 7.

The curtains or drapes 8 and 9 when in opera tive position extend thefull length of the respeca.

tive guide tracks in whichthey are mounted. One

end or edge iii of the curtain 8 is secured to the wall Iadjacentthedooropening 2 y suitable; fastening means ll; Oneendpr edge18 of the,

curtain 9 is secured to thewall lat a point spaced from and on theopposite side of the door opening2 from which the curtain v8 is securedbysuit-q able. fastening means- I 9. This leaves each acute-a sectiononthe line line '|'Iof of the lower" edge of the curtain-showingthe'weights therein. Referring to thegdrawings there 'is'shown in Theouter cure tion as a blackout device for the door Opening 2 g arearranged to be hung at one side thereof in the cover plate carried guidetracks- 6 and 'I-t Their arrangement is best shown in the -forcessectional views of Figures 2 and 3. The curtain 8 forms a bay spacedfrom but entirely encoma l5 enclosing the other element and normallycontacting therewith at one edge.

passing the opening 2. The. enclosed curtains.

extends across said bay, but does not i'n'itsel'f' cover the dooropening and partitionstha buy. into two sections A and B, the firstbeing adjacent the door opening 2. The curtains being-light proof withtheir upper edges enclosed in the guide 20 mg and the other enclosedtherein and only pan tracks and their lower edges touching the floor 4and normally held there by the-weights;-will. prevent the egress ofinterior light during: a blackout when the door 3 is-opened- A personentering the bay section Althrough the open door 3 firstencountersthecurtain 9. By moving aside or pulling back thefree endzor; edge 20 ctthecurtain in a manner show-rrzin Figure 5 he can enter the bay section Basshown in Figure 3. The free edge!!! lies in contactwith go By theoperation-described the blackout' device, .4

positively prevents the escape of light as.-successive movement of thefreefends or edges-iotuthe; curtains is necessary upon, entrance or'exit and. after each movement and before: the: next: the" free ends oredges automaticallygswing baeato ai r position preventing theegress:of;light: Due-to; the fact Sliding. movement ofthey end ,curtaincarrying pins [3 is retarded byjthB -hOtChxZZZQf: the track I! in whichthey/are" se'atedndurin x the normal movement orswingingibackrof thecurtain edges as shown in Figure 5=- the curtain will not slide bodilyalong thetrack'in the guides so that, when released,will automatically,-return; to position withinmfurther effort. This is espe+ cially helpfulfor persons, carrying cumbersome: bundles who do not have free use. ofbothihandsp This result is due to thefact thecurtains are; flexible anddrape hung and supplementedrbygthe. weights at the bottom edger will:automatically; return to theirnormal hung position. i

This blackout curtain device: is; very easilyr'i'nstalled. It is-merelynecessary to secnrethercover: plate above the door opening, run the pinuat-- tached curtains 8 and 9 intheir-respectiveguide of the way and willnot interfere with the normal use of the door.

Although I have only described in detail one embodiment of theinvention, it will be apparent 5 to those skilled in the art that theinvention is not so limited, but that various modifications may, be madetherein without departing from the 'spiritthereof'or from the scopeoi-theappended claims.

6 Having described my invention, what I claim -as--new-and=wish tosecure by Letters Patent is:

-1';. Aablac'k'out curtain device for a door or similar openingcomprising a pair of light sealing elements at one. side thereof, one ofsaid elements 2. A blackout curtain device for a door or similar openingcomprising a pair of longitudinally movable'lightproot members at oneside thereof, one 1015 said. members entirely covering the opentiallyclosing the opening; 7

3. A blackout curtain'devicefor a door or similar opening comprising apair of longitudinallymovable light proof members atone side thereof,one of said members entirely covering the opening and'thenther enclosedtherein and only partially closingthe opening, said last mentionedmember being normally in free end' contact'with the enclosing member. I

4. A blackout curtain device for a door or 'simi lar openingcomprising-a pairof difierent sized light proof drapesgarrangedatone-side of the opening with-one enclosed within the other, and saiddrapes being successivelylongitudinally mov- 3'5; ablejand' restorablefromgone end to seal the opening from light escape during use. p

5; A blackout curtaindevice: for adoor or 'simi lar opening comprisinga-- pair of lightproof drapes arrangedat oneside' of the opening with401 one enclosed withinthe other, and sa-id d-rapes being successivelylongitudinally movable" and restorable from'opposed ends.

6'. A blackout curtaindevicefor adoor or-similar opening comprising; apair ofsuccessively mounted light proof drapesnt oneside=thereof,'-

and said-drapes being-longitudinally movable and restora'ble' fromopposite ends.

'7; A blackout curtain-device for a door: or

v similar opening comprising a light proof" curtain encompassingsaidopening and bowed therefrom to form anientrance-bay, and a second lightproof curtainarrangedin saidba-y' and extending from adjacent theopening to a point in"con'- tactwith-the first curtainintermediate-the'ends of' the same.

8'. A] blackout curtain device for" a door or similar openingcomprisirrg'a light proof curtain encompassing saidopening and" bowedtherefrom-to form an entrance-bay, a-second light proof curtain arrangedin said bay and extending from adjacent the opening'to a' point in"contact opening-from light escape during use.

9. 'I'he combination with aiwall'having a door" or-similar 'open-ing, alightproof curtain'coveringsa'i'd'opening and bowed therefrom to-forman"entrance bay with the ends ofsaid curtain-nor tracks 6 and I and Setheledges To mall'y in con-tact withthe wallet opposite sides the-walll. Due tothe' fact the curtains are f flexible material and drape .hung,when: nntzaim actual use, they may be easily run. along the: tracks I!to a. bunched. positiomadjacentthm.

oft-the opening, and" a second lightprcof c u-r tam enclosed 'by tliefirst and extendingfrom" the wall; adjacent the opening t'o n'ormal'contact with the first curtain.intemiediatetheends secured edges I 6:-andLll 8 where: they will: be out: 751?. of th m 10. The combinationwith a wall having a door or similar opening, a light proof curtaincovering said opening and bowed therefrom to form an entrance bay, withthe ends of said curtain normally in contact with the wall at oppositesides of the opening, a second light proof curtain enclosed by the firstand extending from the wall adjacent the opening to normal contact withthe first curtain intermediate the ends of the same, and said curtainsbeing so spaced that upon entr'ance or exit they are successively swungback and restored to prevent egress of interior light.

11. The combination with a wall having a door or similar opening, alight proof curtain covering said opening and bowed therefrom to form anentrance bay With the ends of said curtain normally in contact with thewall at opposite sides of the opening, a second light proof curtainenclosed by the first and extending from the wall adjacent the openingto normal contact with the first curtain intermediate the ends of thesame, said ourtains being so spaced that upon entrance or exit they aresuccessively swung back and restored to prevent egress of interiorlight, and mountings for the curtains that permit them to be bunchedagainst the wall at opposite sides of the opening when not in use.

12. The combination with a wall having a door or similar opening, alight proof curtain for said opening bowed therefrom to form an entrancebay with one end of the curtain secured to the wall adjacent one side ofthe opening and the other end being free but contacting the wall at theother side of the opening, a second light proof curtain enclosed by thefirst and secured at one end to the wall between the opening and freeend of the first mentioned curtain with its other end being free but incontact with the first curtain intermediate the ends of the same, andsaid curtains being so mounted and positioned that upon entrance andexist the free ends may be successively swung back and restored.

13. The combination with a wall having a door or similar opening, alight proof curtain for said opening bowed therefrom to form an entrancebay with one end of the curtain secured to the wall adjacent one side ofthe opening and the other end being free but contacting the wall at theother side of the opening, a second light proof curtain enclosed by thefirst and secured at one end to the wall between the opening and freeend of the first mentioned curtain with its other end being free but incontact with the first curtain intermediate the ends of the same, andsaid curtains being so mounted and positioned that upon entrance andexist the free ends may be successively swung back and restored, a coverplate extending from the Wall above the opening by which the curtainsare supported, and said curtains extending the full height of theopening.

14. The combination with a wall having a door or similar opening, acover plate extending from the wall above the opening, a pair of guidetracks supported thereby, light proof drapes hung in said guides oneforming an entrance bay andthe other extending across the same, andmeans to retard sliding of the curtains on the tracks at opposite ends.

15. The combination with a wall having a door or similar opening and afloor, a cover plate extending from the Wall above the opening, a pairof guide tracks supported thereby, light proof drapes hung in saidguides one forming an entrance bay and the other extending across thesame, and weights in the lower edge of said drapes to hold them incontact with the floor.

GEORGE A. BARKER,

